r - How do I split a column of factors into multiple columns of multiple factors? -

say have data frame looks this:

factor     value ======     ===== 1a.in      1.0 1a.out     2.6 1b.in      0.5 1b.out     3.4 2a.in      5.5 

etc.

my goal add columns data frame extract information single factor column, such:

factor   value   fact1     fact2     fact3 ======   =====   =====     =====     ===== 1a.in    1.0     1                 in   1a.out   2.6     1                 out 1b.in    0.5     1         b         in 1b.out   3.4     1         b         out 2a.in    5.5     2                 in 

i cannot figure out how without using subset ad nauseum. i'm relatively new r, , don't have background in programming, advice appreciated.

see ?substr.

within(df, {     fact1 <- substr(factor, 1, 1)     fact2 <- substr(factor, 2, 2)     fact3 <- substr(factor, 4, 999) }) 

i'm making assumptions here how many characters use each new variable. more generality, should have kind of regular structure in factor, eg dots separators variables.